EARTH DAY ACTION TOOLKIT 2023
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2023
EARTH DAY
ACTION TOOLKIT
START
HERE
ABOUT
WELCOME TO THE WORLD’S LARGEST ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT. WELCOME TO THE WORLD’S LARGEST ENVIRONMENT
AL MOVEMENT. WELCOME TO THE WORLD’S LARGEST ENVIRON-
EARTH DAY
Every April 22nd, stakeholders of all backgrounds come together to advance
sustainability and climate action in commemoration of Earth Day.
Our world needs transformation. It’s time for the people of the world to
hold governments and the private sector accountable for their role in our
environmental crisis while also calling for bold, creative, and innovative
solutions. This will require action at all levels, from business and investment
to city and national government.
That’s where you come in: as an individual, you yield real power for change
through your influence as a consumer, a voter, and a community member.
Don’t underestimate your power. When your voice and actions are united
with millions of others around the world, we can create an inclusive and
impactful movement that is impossible to ignore.
Throughout April, we commemorate Earth Month with marches, rallies,
volunteer events, and more. United together, we’ll drive a year of energy,
enthusiasm, and commitment to a sustainable and equitable future for our
planet.
2023 THEME INVEST IN OUR PLANET This year, we rally behind the theme “Invest In Our Planet”, which highlights the importance of dedicating our time, resources, and energy to solving climate change and other environmental issues. Investing in our planet is necessary to protect it and the best way to pave a path towards a prosperous future. When we Invest In Our Planet together, we are supporting healthy, happy, and wealthy communities worldwide. Visit EARTHDAY.ORG to learn more and sign up for updates on our work.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Use our interactive map to register your own Earth Day events or find community events happening near you.
REGISTER YOUR EVENTS HERE
FIND NEARBY EVENTS HERE
MORE WAYS TO
INVEST IN OUR PLANET
Participate In Sustainable
Plant Trees
Advocacy Fashion
Our reforestation campaign Send a letter to your local Learn about the detrimental
has planted tens of millions impacts of fast fashion, the
of trees over the last at your next town hall importance of sustainable
decade, often for as little meeting, or sign an fashion, and commit to
as $1 per tree! Earth Day petition. responsible consumption.
Reduce Plastic
Vote Earth
Consumption
Make a plan to reduce your Use our Vote Earth hub to
plastic consumption register to vote, learn your
using our plastic calculator. voting rights, and get
reminders for important
voting deadlines.
*Click on the icons above to learn more about the many ways to invest in our planet and support our campaigns.
PLAN YOUR
OWN EVENT
It’s easy to start your own Earth Day event! Click on the
toolkits below for step-by-step instructions on how to
organize an Earth Day activity for your community.
Plan a March or Rally
Host a Community Cleanup
Popular Earth Day Events
Plan a March or Rally 1. Select an appropriate site, date, and time protests. passionate about the environment before the main 7. Post to social media and follow up – Choose a public location for people to meet: – In general, protest organizers should be prepared event. Bringing people together beforehand can – Take pictures throughout your rally and share a park, church, or a similar community site that to obtain a permit in advance through an increase commitment and turnout to the actual them on Twitter and Instagram. Use handles is ideally accessible by public transportation or application and a small fee. Tip: It may take up to event. #EarthDay and #InvestInOurPlanet bicycle. 90 days in advance to obtain a permit, so start this – Ask local vendors and restaurants to donate food – Share your images with local newspapers, – Select a date. TIP: Earth Day is on April 22nd research ahead of time. for volunteers. Be sure that contributors get credit magazines, and EARTHDAY.ORG at info@earthday. – Select a Time: Depending on where you are, – Each state has its own form of protest laws, and for their donations in promotions. org choose a time that allows for plenty of daylight and some individual municipalities and cities may also – Gather supplies: – Write thank you emails to any cooperating comfortable temperatures for volunteers. TIP: The have varying laws. – Poster supplies: poster board, markers government officials, businesses, and organizations. time should reflect the needs of your community. – Speak with a local attorney or contact your – Water and snacks 8. Keep the momentum going after the rally. If the rally is for students, is the meeting time after representative to learn more about your city’s rules – First aid kit Share these resources with attendees to deepen school hours? and regulations. – Sunscreen and bug spray the impact of your event: – If you are planning on leading a march, select 4. Gather volunteers – For larger events, a megaphone is helpful –Register to vote an accessible walking route. See step 3 to learn – Register your rally to list your event on our map . – Print out fliers with QR codes to any petitions you –Contact your local representative and encourage more about blocking off roads. TIP: Plan your route and connect it to our global network of volunteers want attendees to sign onto. We recommend our them to set achievable sustainability goals around significant landmarks, like city hall or the – Advertise to your organization, family, friends, and/ petition to end plastic pollution, or you can make –Sign our petition to end plastic pollution. courthouse. or community members your own! –Plan and participate in local cleanups – here is a –– Register your rally to list your event on our TIP: people from different organizations and 6. Start your rally day link to find one near you map and connect it to our global network of associations can help turn out volunteers and – Closer to the date, check the weather, and plan –Plant trees within your neighborhood and donate volunteers bridge community members through the rally ie: A to dress appropriately. Wear something you can to The Canopy Project 2. Organize a planning group reverend asking their ministry comfortably move in! –Make sure that your event is registered on the – Decide who will be organizing the rally. Whether it – Online: Use Facebook or Eventbrite to create the – Send a reminder to all participants and key EarthDay event map to find more rallies, marches, is your friends, your organization, or just you! event and manage volunteer sign-up, and share individuals that you hope to attend the night before cleanups, and other events. – Invite members from local government, civic event information. Create a shareable flier to post to or the day of. –Become a Volunteer with EARTHDAY.ORG organizations, clubs, homeowner associations, a wide range of social media platforms. – Invite local media outlets to cover the event and –Become an Earth Day member churches, and media to serve on the planning – Offline: Put up posters around the neighborhood, spread awareness. – Take a quiz to test your knowledge on individual committee. TIP: Having a diverse coalition can help on the elevator in your apartment building, on the – As a leader, arrive at the event early to set up action, climate and emissions, or conservation and the event run well. bulletin board in your building or dorm, etc. Get before volunteers arrive. restoration. – Appoint site captains who will manage the event creative and make sure to include the important – Have a check-in table and posters that are easily –Learn and understand the impacts of plastic and designate roles so that the event goes well. details of the rally in your flier! identifiable. pollution and make changes towards the 3. Obtain the proper licenses and permits 5. Line up support and supplies – Host an orientation and a brief safety talk once movement to End Plastic Pollution. – Peaceful protest is a constitutional right under the – Decide if you want to host a poster-making everyone has arrived. –Divest from companies with a high environmental First Amendment of the US Constitution. However, session before the event or on the day of. – Direct your volunteers to sign a petition (we footprint, and instead invest ethically in sustainable there are certain governmental restrictions that An art build is a great way to facilitate community suggest using our petition to end plastic pollution, companies—you’ll be likely to make more money dictate the time, place, or manner of rallies and bonding and get to know other individuals but you can also make your own) over time!
Host a Community Cleanup 1. Select an appropriate site, date, and time –TIP: people from different organizations and –Event Signage materials. –Choose a public location: a park, a river, associations can help turn out volunteers and –Download and print this QR code to have 7. Dispose of the waste or a similar community site that is ideally bridge community members through the the attendees sign the Global Plastic Treaty –Find a location to properly dispose of all of accessible by public transportation or bicycle. cleanup; i.e.: A reverend asking their ministry) petition the waste you will clean up! –Select a date. TIP: Earth Day is on April –Online: Use Facebook or Eventbrite to create 5. Start your cleanup day –Sort the waste into trash, recyclables, and 22nd and World Cleanup Day is on the Third the event and manage volunteer sign up, and –Closer to the date, check the weather and hazardous waste. Saturday in September). share event information. plan to dress appropriately. Wear something –If you are unsure of where to dispose of any –Select a Time: Depending on where you –Offline: Put up posters around the you don’t mind getting dirty! of this waste, contact your local municipality’s are, choose a time that allows for plenty of neighborhood, on the elevator in your –Send a reminder the night before or day off waste department for further instruction. daylight and comfortable temperatures for apartment building, on the bulletin board in to all participants and key individuals that you 8. Following up volunteers. Most cleanups happen between your building, etc. Get creative! hope to attend. –Help us track trash and have your cleanup be 9:00am and 11:00am. 4. Line up supplies and arrange for disposal –Invite local media outlets to cover the event recorded on our public map by reporting your 2. Organize a planning group –Ask for donations of trash bags, and spread awareness cleanup –Decide who will be organizing the cleanup. refreshments, and equipment. TIP: Local –As a leader, arrive to the event early to set up –Take pictures before and after your collection Whether it is your friends, your organization, hardware stores are usually willing to donate before volunteers arrive and share to twitter and instagram. Use or just you! these resources 6. Orientation and safety talk handles #EarthDay #GreatGlobalCleanup, –Invite members from local government, civic –Coordinate with local waste management –Safety is key. Two people make a team! Wear #TrashTag, and #Plogging. EARTHDAY.ORG organizations, clubs, homeowner associations, through a short phone call to ensure gloves, and closed toe shoes. Bring a hat, will be re-posting content to our social media churches and media to serve on a cleanup everything is being disposed of in accordance sunscreen & reusable water bottle –Post your event on social media. Tag us at planning committee. Having a diverse with rules and regulations. –Keep the environment safe.Vegetation is @thegreatglobalcleanup on Instagram and coalition can help the event run well. –Be sure that contributors get credit for their sensitive and wildlife is best kept wild TikTok. –Appoint site captains who will manage the donations in cleanup promotions –What to remove: –Share your images with local newspapers, event and designate roles to assure cleanup –Gather supplies: –Trash and Litter (Anything created by magazines, and EARTHDAY.ORG goes smoothly. –Trash Bags or Buckets humans) –Write thank you emails to any cooperating 3. Gather volunteers –Trash Grabbers –Recyclables government officials, businesses, and –Register your cleanup so it appears on the –First Aid Kit –What to leave: organizations. Great Global Cleanup Map and is connected –Gloves and Hand Sanitizer –Nature –Learn more about EARTHDAY.ORG’s Great to our global network of volunteers –Water/ Snacks –Homeless Encampments Global Cleanup. –Advertise your cleanup to your organization, –Table and chairs (we recommend two tables, –Dead Animals family, friends, and/or community members one 6’ and the other 4’) –Syringes, needles, and other hazardous
Popular Earth Day Events • Organize a teach-in to educate your peers or students about the importance of environmental action. Check out our climate liter- acy resources for an in-depth guide! • Plant a pollinator garden using native species to support local populations of butterflies, bees, and other organisms that are critical to biodiversity. • Form a community sustainability committee to create a happier, healthier, and wealthier environment for you and your neighbors. • Help your family and friends register to vote using our Vote Earth resources. Be sure to register any and all events you plan on the official Earth Day Map. Post what you’re doing this Earth Day and make sure to tag #EarthDay and/or #In- vestInOurPlanet to possibly be featured on our social channels!
EARTH DAY IDEAS
FOR COMMUNITIES
Universities Home Owners 0 Faith Leaders
Professors Parents Community Groups
Students Schools Senior Activists
Administrators Businesses Creators
City GovernmentsUniversities Professors Students Administrators
The future of civilization begins • Plan a protest or volunteer • Make Climate a Class by • Invest in a sustainable campus.
with higher education. The next event with your student planning a teach-in for your Energy efficient buildings
generation of leaders are today’s organization! Make sure to students on Earth Day. Visit with sustainable water and
students, and it is essential register your events on our our Toolkit for Professors or our heating systems will save your
students entering fields across Earth Day Map to connect Education Resource Library for institution a significant amount
all sectors are educated in how them to volunteers in your inspiration to plan your lesson. of money and also contribute
their work intersects with the area and be recognized in the • Share our Earth Day to a healthy climate. Cultivating
climate and our environment. official commemoration of Map and information on a biodiverse, green space will
Students who implement Earth Day 2023. environmental events & create a healthy and enriching
sustainability in their careers • Write a letter to your school volunteer opportunities with campus environment for your
are more likely to succeed, and administrators demanding your students to help them get students.
universities who implement your university take involved this Earth Day. • Support the global call for
sustainability on campus and measures to improve campus • Consider extra credit for climate education by signing
incorporate climate education in sustainability and make climate participation to incentivize your the Climate Literacy Letter on
all classrooms are essential. investments. students! behalf of your institution.
• Host a tabling event in your
university common area to
educate your peers and get
them involved in upcoming
opportunities.
• Join the Climate Education
Coalition and become an
advocate for climate literacy
in education policy. To join,
email Johnny Dabrowski at
dabrowski@earthday.org
Explore Other CommunitiesHome Owners
A sustainable home is a happy your family money. outdoor living space. If you
home. If you are a homeowner, • Install a smart thermostat to want to keep some grass in
Investing in Our Planet is lower your energy consumption the lawn, maintain it with an
essential to financial success. (and your heating bill!). electric mower.
A home that is equipped with • Switch to LED lightbulbs • Display a yard or window sign
efficient power/water/heating to dramatically reduce the to showcase your commitment
systems, coupled with renewable amount of power needed to to sustainability and get your
energy, will save you thousands light your home. LED lights last neighbors on board.
of dollars per year while 100x longer than traditional • Talk to your homeowners
drastically reducing your impact light bulbs! association about its current
on the environment. With the • Seal air and water leaks in your regulations related to climate
newly passed Inflation Reduction home to improve efficiency and and the environment. Discuss
Act, you could also be eligible reduce your utility bills. how the community can
for massive tax breaks when you • Install modern low-flow shower improve these policies.
implement sustainable home heads, saving carbon emissions,
improvements. energy costs, and up to 15,000
gallons of water per person per
• Learn about the tax year!
opportunities for sustainable • Learn how to compost and
home improvements in the reduce the carbon impact of
Inflation Reduction Act and food waste; plus, this will give
make a plan to take advantage you a free source of soil if you
of these benefits this year. have a garden!
• Install rooftop solar panels, • Plant native species and
explore ways of making your pollinators to support
home energy efficient, and save biodiversity and beautify your
Explore Other CommunitiesParents Schools
Every parent wants their children Education is the foundation of a • Sign the petition on behalf of your
to grow into responsible, prosperous and thriving civilization. school or organization
considerate, and successful adults. A successful society is one which • Sign the petition as an individual
Commemorating Earth Day as a respects nature, and these values • Plan a teach-in to educate your
family is key to nurturing these are born in the classroom. Teachers students about the climate crisis
values and ensuring that nature and and school administrators are in and how each of us can be part of
sustainability are an important part a unique position to nurture our the solution. Use our Education
of your child’s identity. children to grow into intelligent and Resource Library to help guide the
responsible citizens. Every school conversation.
• Have a conversation with your can use Earth Day to ensure that • Use our Climate Literacy
children about the importance environmental values are passed Communications Toolkit to spread
of living sustainably and identify along to the next generation! the word about the importance of
ways that your family can improve climate education in schools.
together. • Register your institution as an • Visit our page for Climate and
• Work together as a family to Earth Day School! Put your school Environmental Literacy to learn
implement as many of these on the map and ensure that your more about how schools are critical
52 Actions and Tips to make a community’s Earth Day efforts are to a sustainable future.
difference. recognized.
• Take your family to a local • Become an Education Champion
cleanup, or start your own in the by joining our global network of
neighborhood or a nearby park! educators who work together
• Plant a pollinator garden with to bring climate education to
your kids for a fun, impactful, and communities everywhere.
educational day outside.
• Use our plastic calculator with your • Sign the climate literacy petition to
kids and discuss how your family advance environmental education
can reduce plastic consumption. worldwide:
Explore Other CommunitiesBusinesses
The business world is among work from home opportunities
the most significant emitters of for employees, increasing quality
greenhouse gasses and other of life and job satisfaction for
pollutants. However, they are also your workforce while eliminating
in a position to profit significantly a significant source of carbon
from a sustainable transition. When emissions from your business.
businesses Invest in Our Planet, they • Expand your sustainable investment
are aligning themselves with the portfolio. Institutions that have
modern economy, invariably leading made these investments early
to a more cost efficient, respected, and often are already seeing the
and profitable enterprise. Companies returns, which continue to grow as
that invest early and often are already the world inevitably transitions to a
seeing gains and are on track for sustainable economy.
prosperity in the 21st century. • Mitigate the carbon impact of
your business by planting a forest
• Invest in sustainable infrastructure with the Canopy Project, our
for your business. A workplace that reforestation campaign that has
operates using renewable energy collaborated with institutions
and has taken measures to ensure including several major Fortune
energy efficiency will see vast 500 companies to plant over ____
reductions in their operating costs, million trees in the last decade.
increasing the profit margin. Email Kathryn Stoddard, Chief of
• Go paperless as much as possible. Marketing, at stoddard@earthday.
Electronic records are better org for the best opportunities for
maintained and are less resource your business to participate in the
intensive. Canopy Project.
• Offer bike-to-work incentives or
Explore Other CommunitiesCity Governments
Local elected officials have the greatest partnering with ICLEI—Local Governments new green spaces, especially in marginalized
opportunity to directly impact the quality of afor Sustainability to support cities around the and low-income areas.
city’s air, land, water, and climate—the natural
world in hosting their own Paris Agreement • Revitalize waterfronts to mitigate pollution
resources that their constituents depend on. “local stocktake” event on or and beautify communities.
around Earth Day. Email Evan Raskin, National • Ban or tax single-use plastics, especially
When city governments Invest in Our Planet, Campaign Manager, at those used in foowd serviceware and create
they are taking an essential step in securing raskin@earthday.org to get involved. a Zero Waste or Circular Economy plan.
a happy, healthy, and wealthy future for • Pass stricter clean water and clean air
their community, all while saving millions of • Set high building efficiency standards ordinances.
taxpayer dollars. for development projects and building • Expand access to recycling and composting
upgrades. services.
• Lead by example by implementing • Develop and implement a plan for all public • Create catchment basins and place nets
sustainable solutions in government transportation to run on renewable energy. around drainage pipes to stop waste from
buildings and institutions. • Mandate green roofs for all buildings polluting waterways.
• Work with your department of parks and and plant trees to protect human health,
recreation to plan events such as cleanups, conserve natural spaces, and mitigate
pollinator gardening, and habitat restoration climate impacts.
for the community on Earth Day. Be sure to • Significantly expand or create pedestrian
register these events on our map. and bicycle-only zones in the city.
• Establish a carbon pricing or taxing scheme.
As the world commemorates five years since • Launch a major clean energy or green
the signing of the Paris Agreement, the infrastructure project, taking climate justice
United Nations has declared that officials into account.
at all levels of government, especially local • Develop a biodiversity protection strategy
leaders, should take stock of the progress & establishing green corridors for wildlife in
they have made and adapt their plans for your city.
implementation by 2030. EARTHDAY.ORG is • Expand or create significant stretches of
Explore Other Communities0 Faith Leaders Community Groups Senior Activists
Houses of worship bring people environmental volunteer Are you part of a community Our senior activists are a
together and form communities activities for the community. organization such as a running respected source of wisdom and
bonded by shared values. As • Organize a volunteer event for team, garden club, or fishing guidance for our families and
a faith leader, you are in an your congregation. Popular group? Bring your organization communities. This Earth Day,
essential position to foster the events for houses of worship together for Earth Day and give make a valuable contribution to
community’s identity and guide include community cleanups back to the public spaces that conserving our common home.
their values. Every religion and planting intergenerational your group calls home.
and spiritual practice includes pollinator gardens. • Donate to the Canopy Project
the call for humanity to act as • Discuss the spiritual call to • Host a cleanup event in a park to plant a forest in your family’s
stewards of creation—on Earth protect nature in a sermon on that your club typically meets name for as little as $1 per tree.
Day, bring your congregation or near Earth Day, April 22. in. • Call your mayor and tell
together to ensure that • Make sustainable • Take time at your next meeting them to support healthy
your community is united in improvements to your house to discuss how to improve the communities by Investing in
protecting nature. of worship, such as the sustainability of your club’s Our Planet.
suggestions found in the activities. • Hold a conversation with your
• Form a sustainability “Homeowner” section. • Attend a local march or rally as family on the importance of
committee composed of • A more energy efficient a group. sustainability and climate
clergy and/or lay leaders, who congregation will save money, action.
will guide the congregation’s which can be used to support
implementation of sustainable the community and further
improvements and plan the mission of your faith.
Explore Other CommunitiesCreators
Content creators and artists play • NGOs and civil society your voice is especially
a critical role in communicating organizations play a vital role powerful when it comes to
the importance of climate action. in the success of Earth Day! advocacy. Organize a petition
Share your vision and inspire the Climate and the environment or letter writing campaign for
public to make a difference! are relevant to every nonprofit your audience to sign onto
mission, join us in building a and demand change from
• Create posters, banners and more sustainable, equitable businesses, elected officials, or
other art for nearby protests future for communities other decision makers!
and rallies. everywhere! Your audience • Use your media platform
• Host a charity art auction and cares about making the to spread the word about
donate the proceeds to tree world a better place; this the importance of being
planting with the Canopy April mobilize them to come an engaged member of
Project. together on Earth Day and the community; use the
• Make posts and reels on advocate for our common hashtags #EarthDay and
Instagram/TikTok/Facebook goals! #InvestInOurPlanet on socials.
encouraging your followers • Plan a community event for
to volunteer, attend events, your audience! Use the guides
and become advocates for the contained in this toolkit to plan
planet. a cleanup, a march or rally, or
• Be sure to share on another volunteer event to
social media using the help communities Invest in
hashtags #EarthDay and Our Planet.
#InvestInOurPlanet • As a nonprofit organization,
Explore Other CommunitiesWE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR EARTH DAY EVENTS. Be sure to register any and all events you plan on the official Earth Day Map. Post what you’re doing this Earth Day and make sure to tag #EarthDay and/or #In- vestInOurPlanet to possibly be featured on our social channels! EARTHDAY.ORG 1752 N STREET NW, SUITE 700, WASHINGTON, DC 20036 INFO@EARTHDAY.ORG (202) 518-0044
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